Did you know that 2011 celebrates the Year of India in Canada Festival? We’re celebrating by scarfing down some poppadom and buying ourselves a Ticket to Bollywood.

From Mumbai to Montreal’s Oscar Peterson Hall, this 90-minute musical organized by the Kabir Cultural Centre covers four decades of Bollywood history with over 400 costumes and 1,000 pieces of Indian jewelry (and plenty of dramatic dancing damsels in distress, we’re betting!).

Getting to experience India without having to leave Canada? Now that's the bomb-eh? —JN

Ticket to Bollywood, Friday April 1, 2011 at 7.30 PM, Oscar Peterson Concert Hall, 7141 Sherbrooke St West, tickets from $24 at www.admission.com

Lately we’ve had the urge to break into dance moves in the middle of Central Station (hey, who hasn’t?).

Perfect your routine at Ulka Mohanty’s Bollywood dance workshop at Ambaa Yoga. Her two-hour class ($40) combines Bhangra, belly dance and hip hop moves strung together with catchy soundtracks from Indian epics like Slumdog Millionaire, Om Shanti Om and Delhi 6. No dance experience needed, just a craving to shake one’s hips en masse.

Once you’re an expert, throw together a flash mob and the VIA Rail staff won’t know what’s hit them.


October 10 (2 p.m-4 p.m.) and October 11 (12 p.m.-2 p.m.), Ambaa Yoga, 4660 Notre Dame W., St-Henri, 514-996-3620, to register email ulka.mohanty@gmail.com